Device for preventing bagging of trousers at the knee



No. 610,060. Patented Aug. 30, I898.

S. KEPNER.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING BAGGING 0F TROUSERS AT THE KNEE.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1897.) (No Model.)

m: NORRI PETERS co, PHOYO-LITHQ. wnsnmqfon, my CV SOLOMON KEPNER, OF POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVlCE FOR PREVENTING BAGGING 0F TROUSERS AT THE KNEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,060, dated August 30, 1898. Application filed December 21,1897- Serial 11 662,784. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, SOLOMON Knrnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pottstown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Preventing the Bagging of Trousers at the Knees; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel garment attachment, the object being to produce a simple and inexpensive contrivance' which may be easily applied to trousers or other garments to prevent distortion or bagging of the same-as, for instance, at the knee.

To this end the invention consists in providing a pair of flexibly-connected rigid strips or reinforcing rods or links and in securing the device thus formed along the seam of the trousers at a point to bring the flexible connection between the two sections directly opposite the knee, each of the sections or links being secured to the garment at various points along its length to prevent wrinkling or distortion of the goods at the'seam when the knee is bent, except intermediate of the members. One of the attachments is arranged upon each side of the leg and preferably upon the inside of the garment along the seam.

My purpose in devising this attachment to be permanently secured to the garment is to constantly restore the garment to its proper shape by compelling the material along the seams to lie smooth and unwrinkled when the knee is unbent or, in other words, when the,

'versal connection.

wrinkling of the trousers is permitted by the universal connection between the members; but as soon as the leg is straightened the members of the attachment will assume an alined position and will compel the material, which would otherwise retain a series of wrinkles, to lie perfectly smooth and in proper shape. In this manner the trousers are in effect stretched along the seams upon opposite sides of the knee whenever the leg assumes a.

secured to the garment; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the attachments detached.

Referring to the numerals on the'drawings, 1 indicates a trousers-leg composed, as usual, of the front and rear strips 2 and 3, connected by the side scams 4.

5 and 6 indicate my attachments secured along the side seams upon the inner side of the garment and opposite the knee. These attachments are composed, respectively, of two rigid or inflexible sections 7 and 8, extending above and below the knee, the lower section 8 being somewhat longer than the upper section and being connected thereto by a universal connection 9. The universal connection or joint is preferably effected by forming engaging loops or eyes upon the contiguous ends of the sections and arranged at right angles to each other. The attachments thus constructed are secured along the seam by stitches passed over the sections or through apertures therein. I prefer, however, to form terminal eyelets 10, extending rearwardly from the free ends of the sections, and I pass the stitches through these eyelets and around the sections adjacent to the uni- The terminal eyelets are not made exactly circular, but the strand is bent at right angles to the main portion of the section and is then turned back to form the eyelet. The reason for this is that it is preferable to have that portion of the eyelet over which the thread passes substantially at right angles with the main portion in order to permit slight movement of the stitches without straining them sufficiently to cause their breaking when the knee is bent and the device assumes an angular relation. 7

It is obvious that these attachments may be secured within the seam, if desired, or that they may be inclosed within casings eX- tending a suitable distance along the inner side of the seam; but for ordinary use it is simply necessary to secure these little devices along the inner side of the seam by stitches passing through the terminal eyelets and around the sections adjacent to the universal connection or joint at the juncture of two sections.

It will now be seen by reference to the drawings that the material is prevented from wrinkling intermediate of the ends of these sections by reason of the securing means located at their opposite ends. Supposing the knee to be bent, the material at the seam is prevented from wrinkling or yielding except at the joint, and when the knee is unbent as, for instance, when the wearer of the garment assumes a standing posturethe members of the attachment will assume an alined position and will effectually restore the garment to its normal and proper shape. It will therefore be observed that by the employment of this exceedingly simple and inexpensive attachment, which in practice is easily secured to the cloth, I am enabled to provide means for preventing the wrinkling of the garment along the seam adjacent to the knee which would result in the distortion, bagging, or springing of the garment and which usually destroys its usefulness long before the fabric has been materially affected by wear; but

while the present embodiment of my invention appears to be preferable I do not desire to limit myself to the structural details set out, but'reserve the right to change, modify, or vary them at will within the scope of the protection prayed.

For the purpose of facilitating the drawing of the claimsI shall employ the term sleeve, by which I mean any tubular portion of a garment-as, for instance, a trousers-leg, a shirt or coat sleeve, or in fact any portion of the garment which is susceptible of the application of my attachments.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. The combination with the sleeve of a garment,of longitudinally-disposed attachments respectively secured at opposite sides of the sleeve, and consisting respectively of inflexible sections universally connected, substantially as specified.

2. Ihe combination with a garment-sleeve havinglongitudinally-disposed side seams, of an attachment secured to each seam at opposite points and each consisting oftwo inflexible sections universally connected and having rearwardly-extending terminal eyelets, said attachments being secured to the garment by stitches passing through the terminal eyelets and stitches engaging the sections adjacent to the universal connection, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SOLOMON KEPNER.

VVitn esses:

JOHN ELLIs, V. D. STOCKBRIDGE. 

